A white crescent moon under my fingernail… I can’t see it, but is there a problem?

A white crescent moon under my fingernail… I can’t see it, but is there a problem?

 

Typically, you'll see a white, crescent-shaped area at the very base of your nail. This area is called the "luna," and some say that a larger area indicates healthy nails. Is this true?

 

Nails have different functions depending on the part of the nail. The pinkish part of the nail helps with touch and grasping objects. The root of the nail contains the substrate that produces new nail growth. The skin layer surrounding the nail supports the nail.

 

The white semicircle that appears is a kind of "unfinished nail." Nails are composed of keratin, known as the hardest protein in our bodies. The mother cells at the root divide, push outward, and then harden, forming the nail we see. The nail lunula contains mother cells that have not yet divided.

The presence or absence of a lunula doesn't necessarily indicate nail health. The pinkish area of ​​the nail is where the nail and the underlying skin are tightly attached, revealing the pink color of the flesh. Where the lunula is present, the nail and skin are less tightly attached, making the area appear comparatively whiter. Why isn't the nail root so tightly attached to the skin? The reason, if you must explain, is that it facilitates nail growth. However, since the absence of a lunula doesn't necessarily mean that nails grow slower, the lunula's role in nail health isn't particularly significant.

 

Moreover, nail lunations can appear and disappear, or appear and disappear again. This is because nail growth rates vary, and the size of the lunation also changes. Racial differences also exist. Reports indicate that lunations are more common in people of color.

 

However, if the size or color of the lunula of the nail suddenly changes, it could be due to a medical condition. Nails also grow by receiving nutrients from the body. Therefore, changes in size or color can be affected by conditions that disrupt hormones or autoimmune diseases. A sudden and rapid growth of the lunula could indicate hyperthyroidism. A yellowish discoloration of the entire nail, including the lunula, could indicate lymphedema. A reddening of the nail could indicate rheumatoid arthritis, cirrhosis, or heart failure.

 

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You can check your health by looking at the color of the crescent moon on your fingernails.

They say that being married has nothing to do with health.

Haha, I ended up looking at my fingernails.